Carnation plant named ‘CFPC Lipstick’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of carnation plant named ‘CFPC Lipstick’ having bright pink flowers.

Latin name of the genus and species: Botanical classification: Dianthus caryophyllus.

Variety denomination: The new carnation variety denomination is ‘CFPC Lipstick’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of hybrid carnation botanically known as Dianthus caryophyllus, and referred to by the cultivar name ‘CFPC Lipstick’.

‘CFPC Lipstick’ was discovered by Oscar T. Hasegawa as a naturally occurring whole plant mutation in a controlled cultivated planting of the patented variety known as ‘CFPC Mel’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,837) in Salinas, Calif. The new variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ has been asexually reproduced by vegetative side shoot cuttings in Salinas, Calif. and the distinguishing characteristics are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

‘CFPC Lipstick’ is a potted spray-type of carnation plant variety having bright pink flowers.

COMPARISON WITH ORIGINAL CULTIVAR

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ are similar to the original cultivar ‘CFPC Mel’ in plant habit and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ differed from plants of the original cultivar ‘CFPC Mel’ in at least the following characteristic:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ produces flowers having         bright pink flowers whereas the original cultivar ‘CFPC Mel’         produces orange picotee pink flowers.

COMPARISON WITH SIMILAR VARIETIES

Plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ are similar to the patented variety ‘CFPC Cupid’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,419) in plant habit and growth rate. In side-by-side comparisons in Salinas, Calif., under commercial practice, plants of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ differed from plants of the similar cultivar ‘CFPC Cupid’ in at least the following characteristic:

-   -   1. The new variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ produces flowers without         splitting of the calyx while the flowers of the similar cultivar         ‘CFPC Cupid’ tend to split the calyx.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

Typical specimens of the plant and flowers for the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ are shown in the accompanying photograph. The colors shown are as true as possible with the usual limits of this kind of illustration.

FIG. 1 is a whole plant view of the new variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ grown in a pot. The plant shown in the illustration is 122 days from date of planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following description of the new carnation variety ‘CFPC Lipstick’ is of plants 122 days from the date of planting grown in a commercial greenhouse in Salinas, Calif. in the month of November. The cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in the environment such as temperature, length of day and light intensity without any variance in genotype.

Plants of the new variety have been grown successfully under temperature conditions averaging about 18° C. at night and about 24° C. to 28° C. during the day under light conditions of about 12-14 hours. Plants are daylight neutral and flower throughout the year. Chemical growth regulators are not required for production.

The new variety may be produced as a potted spray-type carnation. To produce a commercial product the plants may be pinched once with the center bud removed. Pinched plants are about 17.8 cm tall and about 17.8 cm in diameter. Flower diameter averages about 3.8 cm with a crown of about 1.9 cm. Foliage is generally about 8.9 cm long and about 1.1 cm at the widest point. It has been observed that the shelf life of the new variety is about 21 days with the first appearance of color in the buds occurring at about 100-110 days after planting of cuttings. The commercial classification of the new carnation variety is a potted spray-type. The typical container size for commercial growth is 4½ inches.

The following description is with respect to a plant produced as a potted spray-type. The plant and flower measurements and foliage size are established as an average using standard commercial cultural practices. In the description of this new carnation variety, color values have been taken from The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.C.C.)

PLANT

-   Height (cm): 17.8. -   Form: Herbaceous. -   Growing habit: Semi-upright. -   Branching characteristics: 2-3 laterals per stem. -   Breaking action: 4-5 breaks per plant with strong straight stems. -   First appearance of color in buds: 100-110 days after planting. -   Vigor: Excellent. -   Shelf life: 21 days. -   Blooming habit: Spray type. -   Blooming season: Year round. -   Lastingness of blooms: About 10 days. -   Disease (susceptibility/resistance observed): Good resistance to     soil-borne diseases such as Fusarium oxysporum and F. graminearium,     and root rots such as damping off, water molds and similar types, as     is typical of carnations. -   Pest (susceptibility/resistance observed): None observed. -   Drought and temperature (susceptibility/resistance observed): None     observed. -   Mutation prone: No. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Side shoot cuttings.         -   Time to rooting.—18 days with soil temperatures of 18° C. to             21° C.         -   Rooting habit.—Good fibrous system. -   Growth treatments or special conditions: None.

FOLIAGE

-   Stem:     -   -   Length (cm).—14.6.         -   Diameter.—Base (cm): 0.5.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Cross section.—Edged.         -   Color.—Internode: 137C. Node: 145D. -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: 18-20. -   Arrangement of leaves: Bi-lateral along the stem.     -   -   Shape of leaf.—Long, narrow, lanceolate.         -   Size of leaf.—Width (cm): 1.1. Length (cm): 8.9.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute.         -   Edge.—Smooth.         -   Surface texture.—Top: smooth. Bottom: smooth. -   Leaf venation: Prominent mid-vein at underside. -   Leaf longitudinal axis: Recurved. -   Leaf cross section (upper side): Weakly concave. -   Leaf color:     -   -   Mature leaf, upper side.—137A. Under side: 137B.         -   Young leaf, upper side.—139A. Under side: 139A. -   Leaf waxy layer: Medium.

FLOWER

-   Flower appearance: Matte. -   Flower type: Double. -   Flower profile of upper part of corolla: Convex. -   Flower profile of lower part of corolla: Concave. -   Flower shape: Dome shaped, round. -   Number of blossoms per branch: 5-6.     -   -   Depth of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—1.9.         -   Diameter of fully expanded blossoms (cm).—3.8. -   Calyx:     -   -   Sepals number.—5.         -   Length (cm).—0.6.         -   Width (cm).—0.6.         -   Color.—Outer side base: 145A. Outer side middle to tip: 143A             with red 46A flush on sepal edge. Inner side: 193A with red             46A flush near tips.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Shape.—Cylindrical. -   Flower petals:     -   -   Form/shape.—Fan shaped.         -   Petal edge.—Serrated: Width (mm):<1. Depth (mm):<1. Edge             type: Crenate-dentate.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Appearance.—Matte.         -   Petal surface of blade.—Flat.         -   Number per flower.—31.         -   Outer petals.—Length (cm): 4.4. Width (cm): 2.4.         -   Inner petals.—Length (cm): 4.1. Width (cm): 1.9. -   Fragrance: Slight to none. -   Flower bud (at onset of color):     -   -   Length (cm).—2.5.         -   Diameter (cm).—1.1.         -   Form/shape.—Ovoid. -   Flower color:     -   -   1. General tonality.—Bright pink.         -   2. Petals, upper surface.—Close to 55A.         -   3. Petals, lower surface.—Close to 55A.         -   4. Petals, edge.—55A.         -   5. Petals, center.—55A.         -   6. Early bud.—Close to 55A. -   Petal macule: Absent. -   Flower progression with age: Color remains fairly constant with     slight fade.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Gynoecium: Pistillate.     -   -   Pistil number.—1.         -   Pistil length (cm).—3.2.         -   Stigma number.—3 and 4.         -   Stigma color.—Close to 55B, white with a red flush.         -   Stigma shape.—Filamentous.         -   Style color.—Whiter than 155D on outer surface, close to 55B             on inner receptive surface.         -   Style number.—3 and 4.         -   Style length (cm).—2.5. -   Ovary:     -   -   Shape.—Ovoid.         -   Surface.—Ribbed.         -   Color.—Base: 157A. Body: 144B. Apex: 144B. -   Androecium: None produced. -   Fruit and seeds: None produced. 

1. A new and distinct variety of carnation plant, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 